Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up (Romans 15:2).

Showing appreciation is possibly the most enduring form of encouragement. As a servant leader, I enjoy showing appreciation to others and I certainly enjoy receiving it. The confidence I gain from someone saying, “Great job!” or “That was so well done!” is not just an ego booster, it can be fuel for future endeavors!

Our expressions of gratitude can serve as a witness to the world. Showing appreciation can be a powerful testimony of God's love and grace for us in Christ Jesus. Matthew 5:16 encourages us, … let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Showing appreciation to others is a way to reflect God's love and to honor others. It can also help build community and strengthen relationships. Even more importantly, the Christian who is serious about his or her walk with Christ values others and shows appreciation to glorify God and His love, mercy, and grace.

Another significant way to show appreciation is through acts of service. Galatians 5:13 encourages us, … through love serve one another. When we serve others, we demonstrate our gratitude in tangible ways. This could be helping a team member with a project, volunteering to assist a neighbor, or performing acts of kindness for our group or family members. Service is a practical expression of gratitude that can deeply impact those around us.

For fun ideas on making crafts and printable cards to shower others with appreciation, check out Creative Crafts on our LWML website.

Your sister in Christ,
Lucy Servant Leader

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful (Colossians 3:12-15).

Have you struggled from time to time with a lack of patience in your task as a servant leader? I sure have! I like being part of a team of workers when everyone is enjoying their service and working together. When one or two members of a team want to wander from the task and do something different or want to visit instead of work, I feel my patience wearing thin. After all, we’re here to work, right?

God’s plan often includes things we can’t have today that we will be able to enjoy tomorrow. Perhaps it is best to stop struggling to accomplish something now that will be easier when the time is right.

God is teaching us not only to wait, but to have patience and a good attitude during the wait. He permits certain things to happen in life to teach us important principles like: maintaining our faith when times get tough, showing grace under pressure by controlling our responses, and developing new skills and better ways of thinking. Be patient and trust the Lord! He will patiently guide and lead you as you work with others.

Access a good devotion on patience, Waiting for Milestones.

Your sister in Christ,
Lucy Servant Leader

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Corinthians 13:11).

Think about a time when you were a part of a group or team. Did you notice that the contributions of individual members of the group were different? Of course! Because of those differences, disagreements can happen. When conflict surfaces, there are several actions team members can take to maximize their time together. 

• Take a moment to pray. Ask God to guide everyone’s words and actions to effectively resolve the concern.
• Promote peace by listening. Listening is an act of love and humility. Truly listening honors the person speaking, showing them that their words and feelings matter. This action builds trust and generally helps to move towards restoration.
• Be patient with one another. Often the conflict is really a simple misunderstanding. Take the time to understand and define the conflict. This will help with achieving common ground.
• Choose words wisely. Words can help or harm. Thinking about what to say before speaking takes practice, patience, and a thoughtful approach. 
• Be flexible and willing to try something new. There will be instances of conflict when a decision needs to be made. Be ready to accept the decision with a spirit of love. Remember, navigating conflict resolution starts with each member of the team.

Loving Savior, we thank You for guiding us towards agreement with one another. Strengthen us, guide us, and empower us with Your peace and patience. In Your name, Amen.

For another reminder on overcoming challenges, read the devotion, Quarrel? Or Collaborate?

Your sister in Christ,
Lucy Servant Leader

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10).

I thoroughly enjoy interacting within a team. I’ve learned that teamwork is essential in many areas of everyday life and work. Teamwork allows individuals to pool their skills, knowledge, and efforts to achieve goals that might be unachievable solo.

However, even the most efficient teams experience challenges. Typical challenges within a team include poor communication and lack of trust among members. 

Communication can break down in a team due to many reasons. Simple misunderstandings and the lack of clear direction can hinder collaboration and lead to frustration within the team. It is helpful to identify one member of the team who can facilitate the team getting back on track and finding common ground.

Trust is a key building block of all relationships and is especially important in teams. When team members don't trust each other, it can impede cooperation and open communication. To build trust, team members should be willing to share their gifts and intentionally make room for others to share theirs.

A strong team provides a mutually supportive network, offering encouragement and assistance during challenging times. Team members strive to follow Christ’s example, listening with love and speaking with wisdom.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the opportunity to listen and understand members within the team. May our openness reflect Your love and grace. Strengthen us, guide us, and empower us to lead with wisdom and compassion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For another reminder on overcoming challenges, read the devotion, Struggles and Challenges — Oh, My!

Your sister in Christ,
Lucy Servant Leader

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31 NIV).

Jesus encouraged His disciples to take time out to rest. So why do we often feel guilty about taking some time to disconnect and rest?

God’s Word reminds us that taking a day off to rest and refresh is His design. Both our bodies and our minds need rest, but it can be difficult to achieve the rest needed in a world full of multiple distractions and high expectations.

Because our lives are full of “stuff to do,” the importance of rest is often forgotten. As Christian women, let us be reminded of the biblical principles of rest for our spiritual, physical, and mental well-being. 

Rest is a gift from God and can remind us to take a moment to meditate on His Word. Through the Word, the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith and His purpose for our lives. This spiritual rest helps us reflect on His goodness and love in our lives.

Rest is vital for maintaining our physical health. It allows our bodies to recover after long days. Ensuring an adequate number of hours of sleep enhances our cognitive function and improves our overall energy levels.

In addition to physical benefits, rest is vital for our mental health. Rested minds are healthier, providing clarity and the ability to navigate stressful situations. This ultimately leads to better decision-making and problem solving.

Heavenly Father, help us to prioritize rest in our busy lives. Lead us to follow Your will, fulfill our daily responsibilities, and serve others effectively. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For another reminder on the importance of rest, I encourage you to review "The God of All Hope," The Task-Filled Life Bible Study: Session 2.

Your sister in Christ,
Lucy Servant Leader

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand (John 10:27–28).

During worship service, I look forward to speaking my confession of sins and hearing the forgiving words of absolution. It’s at the moment of absolution, I close my eyes, bow my head, and listen to the words, “You are forgiven all your sins.” What wonderful words of life to hear! What joy we have when we listen! When I hear those words of forgiveness, I rejoice that God has forgiven all my sins.

The power of listening extends also into our daily lives. In a spiritual context, listening to God’s Word is crucial for discerning God’s will. We hear the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit guides us by that Word and molds us to be more Christ-like. 

Listening is an act of compassion with one another. It allows us to be present for others in their times of need, offering support and comfort. This mirrors the compassion of Christ, who listened to those around Him, providing solace and guidance.

Listening shows respect and empathy, making others feel valued and understood. Listening can foster trust and deepen connections. When people feel heard, they are more likely to open and share their thoughts and feelings. This openness can lead to greater collaboration and problem-solving, as well as a more inclusive and supportive environment.

Holy Spirit, we thank You for the reminder of listening to Your Word and to each other. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For another reminder on listening, I encourage you to listen to the Mustard Seed devotion, The Word: Wisdom for Living: Listen Up!

Your sister in Christ,
Lucy Servant Leader

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future (Proverbs 19:20). 

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29). 

Communication must involve listening, for if no one is listening, the act of talking would be a waste of breath. Servant leaders might wonder, “Did they hear what I said? Were they listening?” Team leaders and members all appreciate being heard and understood.

Servant leaders listen. The servant leader genuinely gives full attention to what is being said by others. As Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, she listened. Our Father in heaven promises to hear our prayers and answers them according to what is best and according to His will. Just as we are thankful that God does hear, so, too, do we appreciate someone who is a good listener — someone who is attentive and responsive when we are speaking to them. By giving close attention to the details of a conversation, confidence and trust will develop in leadership abilities.

After listening, servant leaders will then encourage and build up team members. They will encourage members in their tasks. They will praise their members on “a job well done.” Honest critique will be given, laced with graciousness. Paul says in Colossians 4:6, Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

There is a balance to team communication and a give-and-take to the sharing of thoughts and ideas. Ask God to cultivate the gifts of listening and speaking among team members. In this way, the team builds itself up to the glory of God.

For helpful articles and Bible studies about communication, see the Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly Winter 2013, “Communication: Mixed Signals.” 

Your sister in Christ,
Lucy Servant Leader